We're baaaaack! :)
Mood:  caffeinated
We left from NC at 10:30am est on Sunday (incidentally also my birthday). We got back to Norfolk at 5:15pm Monday. Long, long drive, and again, Jim did most of the driving. I drove from 5:30am just inside the Missouri border, got us through St Louis during rush hour at 7:00am, and kept driving until we hit Columbia at 9ish. Jim slept through most of that, the first rest he'd had the entire trip. So, I'm not exaggerating when I say that we're both exhausted. And, unfortunately, we're both at work. Jim gets to go home at 2:30, I'm here for the long haul. I can barely keep my eyes open.

Havelock, NC 12:00am
Mood:  not sure
Just left Mrs. Roy's house after being regaled with many tales about various members of the Roy clan.

Somewhere, Indiana 12:10am
"Fog is hell" says Jim. "I now truly understand the meaning of the words: 'a dark and lonely highway, East of Omaha'" He's driven close to 11 hours so far, being nice enough to let me sleep when I could.

Greensboro, NC 10:00am
Mood:  celebratory
We finally have arrived in the last state of our eight state tour. We still have a long way to go, but we have driven nearly 1400 miles.

Winsor, NC 3:15pm
Mood:  a-ok
We have arrived at last. Poor Jim is exhausted. We should be able to catch a short nap before we have to leave for the funeral.

System's back up now. Jim just took the first non-test call.

Mood:  irritated
Now Playing: The waitin' is the hardest part...
At work, like always. System's down for a while. Don't know what's wrong with it. Had to wake up both Andrea and FREDDIE, who is drowsily trying to figure out what is going on. We've managed to miss all three of the "major" rushes (7 or 8 calls per half-hour). Actually haven't taken a single call since I got here at 11. I can see action going on up on the dialer screen, so maybe there's hope.

Norfolk 8:30am
Mood:  caffeinated
Now Playing: on the road again...
Purchased $1.50 (!) in gas to top off tank, as well as fru-fru coffees and Krispy Kreme donuts. Jim is wired to the gills, having downed 2 doubleshots prior to leaving the house.

E of Norfolk 8:45am
Just passed first Rest Area. Didn't stop, as we are only 16 miles from Norfolk!

Hwy 91 10:20am
Mood:  happy
Now Playing: anchors away
Celebrated the passing of our first100 miles, just east of DeSoto Bend. Have spotted the interstate. Captain Jim is still decisively wired.